Spanos has a history in this, having leaned toward then-G.M.
Bobby Beathard instead of coach Bobby Ross after the 1996 season.
That decision came early in an eight-year local run of playoff-free
football.

The Who was expected to sing "Won't Get Fooled Again" Thursday
night in San Diego; Spanos, obviously, hums the same tune.

The road out of town nearly required a Sigalert. Among the
Chargers whose tires will be hitting the asphalt are Donnie
Edwards, Steve Foley, Terrence Kiel and Keenan McCardell.

They could be joined by unrestricted free agents Kris Dielman,Randall Godfrey and Carlos Polk.

Is change good? Smith banks on it, with new players and a freshhead coach in Norv Turner.

Maybe, just maybe, those moves will switch the Chargers' playoff
fate.

Though the latest postseason face plant is nearly seven weeksago, the pain is plain in Smith's tone. Like a deep wound, that24-21 loss to the New England Patriots still burns.

But a broken heart isn't necessarily a flawed one. From the
ashes of dissatisfaction a Super Bowl ring could be minted.

That's King A.J.'s take.

"I really believe that in my heart. It's not just a dream I
have," Smith said.

"The heartache we have had on this football team … that if we
are ever fortunate enough to win enough games to get there, and win
that first playoff game, with the people we have and the character
players we have and the talent we have, I think something wonderful
could happen. If we stay away from injuries. I really believe
that."

Believe it at your own peril. There's no discounting the skill
oozing from the Chargers' roster. But there's no denying the
Chargers have been good for three years, with only palm prints to
show for it.

Backslaps only go so far.

Smith knows it. Just like he's aware that MVP LaDainian
Tomlinson isn't going to run wild indefinitely and injuries somedaymight find the Chargers more than in the past.

"The window of opportunity doesn't stay open forever, it
doesn't," Smith said.

"Which to me has been a little frustrating in the last few
years.

"But we're going to do everything we possibly can to assure that
window of opportunity stays open for the San Diego Chargers, and
you do that with a good football team."

The heck with good -- we've seen that. Anyone for great, meaning
a playoff run lasting longer than a one-day car rental?

For Chargers fans, that's an aspiration of the Groundhog Day
variety. Over and over and over the Super Bowl winner is anointed,
and it ain't the Chargers.

"You've got to get to the postseason to keep that dream alive,"
Smith said.

"So you bang it around every year and maybe one of these years
it is a special year."

If it's 2007, it will be accomplished minus some key 2006components: the team's leading tackler in each of the past fiveyears, a coach whose Chargers winning percentage was eclipsed byonly Sid Gillman, the NFL's ninth all-time leading pass-catcher, astarting strong safety, a defensive coordinator, an offensivecoordinator and three other assistants.

Still, 2007 could be Smith's magical season. Then again, anguish
could rap on the door of a franchise with a four-game playoff
losing skid and seven winning seasons since 1984.

Another team with which Smith is familiar suffered moreheartbreaks than Charlie Brown on Valentine's Day. With Smith onboard, the Buffalo Bills advanced to four straight Super Bowls,only to cart home four super bummers. Their pain didn't translateinto the NFL's biggest prize.

"I wasn't the general manager of the Buffalo Bills," stressed
Smith, who has a 0-2 playoff mark with the Chargers. "I was
director of pro scouting, just a guy recommending players."

"That is really bothering us," he said. "We had a disappointing
loss, a quick exit. We just can't have that. We have to figure this
out somehow. Get to the postseason and figure out how to close out
the deal."

If he does that, he'll be the king of San Diego -- not just the
Chargers.